Landowners offered coal search assurances

The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has moved to address concerns about coal exploration just north of the Latrobe Valley.

Last week, the DPI granted Commonwealth Mining a licence to explore for coal and mineral sands around Toongabbie.

That has disappointed local residents and green groups who opposed Commonwealth Mining's application.

Doug Sceney from the DPI's earth resources department says landholders still have rights.

"It is an exploration licence and it's important that people understand the things that can happen on an exploration licence are quite low key and subject to the approval of the landowner for access," he said.

"Aside from very low-key activities, the holder of the licence would have to come to the Department of Primary Industries for approval to do further work.

"Explorers can't simply walk onto people's land and do work.

"They need to approach landowners and get permission to enter land and if necessary enter into a compensation agreement with them.

"That's the requirement of the Mineral Resources Sustainable Development Act. That's the law that governs exploration for minerals."